Man Utd try to lowball Real Madrid for rising star

Stuart Telford

• 10 Feb 2023 15:26 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United are set to go back in for a Real Madrid star who had a €100 million price tag last summer - but they don’t plan to pay nearly as much this time around.

United are looking to bolster their midfield, and want a long-term partner for Casemiro, who has impressed since his own €80m arrival from the Santiago Bernabeu in August.

The Red Devils have a long-standing interest in Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham as well as Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona, but Manchester City, Liverpool and Real appear to be at the front of the queue for the former while the latter has no intention of leaving Camp Nou.

READ: Real Madrid wages: How much does each player earn?

But Casemiro's former Madrid teammate Federico Valverde could become available, despite his electric start to the season under Carlo Ancelotti.

The Uruguayan had six La Liga goals and two assists in the first half of the season, but has failed to add to his attacking output since the restart, and Ancelotti, one of his major backers in the Spanish capital, has been linked with the Brazil manager's job from the end of the season.

Man Utd want Valverde for €65m

"Erik ten Hag has asked Manchester United to try their luck with Valverde," report Catalan daily newspaper El Nacional. "They want to sign him for around €65m, taking advantage of the fact that he is not in good form to convince [Real president] Florentino Perez to let him go."

READ: How Arsenal missed out on a bargain €3m deal for Fede Valverde

Valvered is valued at €65.9m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm and Madrid might have to settle for a fee closer to that than the €100m they turned down from Liverpool last summer, especially if the 24-year-old makes clear his intention to leave.

Valverde would be a welcome signing at Old Trafford. As well as being able to play central midfield - where he would accompany Casemiro - he is also happy on the right flank, from where he plundered those attacking returns earlier this season.

With Antony flattering to deceive and Jadon Sancho's attitude a cause for concern at the club, Valverde could even find himself playing out wide full time.